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Mistral of Portsmouth - On passage to the Marquesas Islands - Day 3



All is well on the good ship Mistral! We are starting to get into an ‘on passage’ routine - getting used to the watch rota, sleeping, eating, chatting, reading and fishing.

After our belated start we had a good sail from 2pm through to 6am with our Code Zero (very big light wind sail) when the wind died and we started the engine. We have been motoring ever since. We expected 3 to 4 days of motoring as we hit the ITCZ - The Intertropical Convergence Zone, known by sailors as the doldrums because of its monotonous windless weather. It’s the area near the equator where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge. We are hoping to get through it by Saturday and then sail all the way. There’s quite a swell so we are rocking and rolling a bit but the sea itself is glassy.

We’ve sailed 300 miles so far … only another 2700 to go! Not much sign of wildlife yet and certainly no fish … we are probably motoring too fast to catch them. As ever, we are eating well - banana cake on the menu later this afternoon.

Chris and I have some sort of throat infection but apart from that, all is well. We are planning a bridge game and cribbage sometime soon as we have discovered we all play and I have my flipper with me (trusty quick guide to bridge bidding!). Lovely to relax a bit and making the most of calm waters.

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Code Zero out!

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